Just How Good Are UT's Current Recruiters?

[Enki_Amenra]

Tri-state area teams ignored by Dooley staff | Times Free Press

I think we'd all agree that Coach Jones and his current UT staff have done a marvelous job during the recruiting season.

We have gotten a class that is ranked higher than most any in recent memory. A lot of fans feel like the underachieving nightmare that was UT Football under Dooley is officially over.

Is Coach Butch Jones' staff really world beaters when it comes to recruiting or is the current success embellished by comparisons with Dooley's poor recruiting?

Maybe it's a little of both, though I think C Jones' staff are much, much better than the average collegiate recruiting schools. Based on the way they salvaged last year's recruiting class and the dominance they showed while securing a Top-10 2014 class proves they are earning the right to be listed among the top recruiting schools in the nation.

The dismal recruiting under Derek Dooley serves to make a very, very good 2014 Vols class seem as if it is the best ever signed, at any school - ever.

This is, of course, all just my opinion... but it feels like the right opinion to have after reading the article linked above.

I didn't realize just how poor Dooley and his staff were at recruiting and I'm not sure how many people did. Up until the 1-2 weeks prior to his dismissal, there were many fans who were content with giving Dooley 1 more year. It wasn't until the Vanderbilt game that I wanted to see a new coach for our Vols.

Had I realized just how poorly he and his staff had done at recruiting and the extent they were running our University's football program into the ground, I would've been the first to show my displeasure.

Anyway, the point is, now we have a staff that understands what it takes to compete and win in the SEC and they are working overtime to make it happen at UT.

Even though it may not instantly translate to W's, fans & former players will be able to see significant progress for the Vols under Coach Jones.

Knowing what I know now, it's hard to tell just how much better C Jones' Team 118 will be than a Dooley coached Team 118 - my guess is it would be like watching a race between a go-kart with the rider on fire versus a John Force funny car.

Before Dooley was ultimately fired, did you realize just how poor their job performance was - specifically in recruiting?

I never imagined it was as bad as reported in the linked article.



Butch who?

 

[ImportedVoL]

Correction: TOP 5 CLASS

don't undersell them, they have done an AMAZING JOB

if they can do this while losing, I can only imagine how good they will do when we start winning and again become the dominate force in the east.

 

[thebjd]

Dooley wasn't a hit with parents and players either. Many here were railed against for thinking we could do better. They are the ones called nega-vols.

 

[utvols74]

I said then and I'll say now. Dooley was using UT as a stepping stone toward Georgia. While he wanted to be successful at UT, he didn't want it to be *too* successful long term. He gambled and he lost. Conspiracy? Perhaps. But with M Richt at the helm under-performing in most years, many fans vocally displeased with big game, SECCG and bowl game performances and with his dad's heritage and connections, you never know.

Bottom line - Dooley was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a "it'll be ok little Derek" mantra spoken over him. He apparently thought those translated through life.

 

[thebjd]

I said then and I'll say now. Dooley was using UT as a stepping stone toward Georgia. While he wanted to be successful at UT, he didn't want it to be *too* successful long term. He gambled and he lost. Conspiracy? Perhaps. But with M Richt at the helm under-performing in most years, many fans vocally displeased with big game, SECCG and bowl game performances and with his dad's heritage and connections, you never know.

Bottom line - Dooley was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a "it'll be ok little Derek" mantra spoken over him. He apparently thought those translated through life.

Dooley just sucked and was arrogant. Not a good combination.

 

[SuperDave]

Like Butch said from the beginning.. best staff in the country

 

[thegrower]

Tri-state area teams ignored by Dooley staff | Times Free Press

I think we'd all agree that Coach Jones and his current UT staff have done a marvelous job during the recruiting season.

We have gotten a class that is ranked higher than most any in recent memory. A lot of fans feel like the underachieving nightmare that was UT Football under Dooley is officially over.

Is Coach Butch Jones' staff really world beaters when it comes to recruiting or is the current success embellished by comparisons with Dooley's poor recruiting?

Maybe it's a little of both, though I think C Jones' staff are much, much better than the average collegiate recruiting schools. Based on the way they salvaged last year's recruiting class and the dominance they showed while securing a Top-10 2014 class proves they are earning the right to be listed among the top recruiting schools in the nation.

The dismal recruiting under Derek Dooley serves to make a very, very good 2014 Vols class seem as if it is the best ever signed, at any school - ever.

This is, of course, all just my opinion... but it feels like the right opinion to have after reading the article linked above.

I didn't realize just how poor Dooley and his staff were at recruiting and I'm not sure how many people did. Up until the 1-2 weeks prior to his dismissal, there were many fans who were content with giving Dooley 1 more year. It wasn't until the Vanderbilt game that I wanted to see a new coach for our Vols.

Had I realized just how poorly he and his staff had done at recruiting and the extent they were running our University's football program into the ground, I would've been the first to show my displeasure.

Anyway, the point is, now we have a staff that understands what it takes to compete and win in the SEC and they are working overtime to make it happen at UT.

Even though it may not instantly translate to W's, fans & former players will be able to see significant progress for the Vols under Coach Jones.

Knowing what I know now, it's hard to tell just how much better C Jones' Team 118 will be than a Dooley coached Team 118 - my guess is it would be like watching a race between a go-kart with the rider on fire versus a John Force funny car.

Before Dooley was ultimately fired, did you realize just how poor their job performance was - specifically in recruiting?

I never imagined it was as bad as reported in the linked article.



Butch who?

How many years are you will to give Butch ?? This after all is The SEC . If his team cannot beat Vandy this coming season , can he stay ?? Dooley followed Saban's hand picked man for Bama's next coach. That was a hard , if not a impossible gig . I would think The Vols are 2 to 3 years away from a 2nd place finish in the East . This season is the 1st in my way of thinking . My grandsons keep telling me 2014 is the year of The Vols for them I hope they are right . The Vols will beat a team that they are supposed to lose to in 2014 . My $$$$ says it will be the Bama Game .

 

[1982Alum]

Jones needs to play take recruits now and PLAY them wherever possible as soon as possible. Not only will it give us a better team in a year or two but it will show other kids coming out that UT will give you a chance to play if you are good enough. That helps on NSD!

 

[ImportedVoL]

How many years are you will to give Butch ?? This after all is The SEC . If his team cannot beat Vandy this coming season , can he stay ?? Dooley followed Saban's hand picked man for Bama's next coach. That was a hard , if not a impossible gig . I would think The Vols are 2 to 3 years away from a 2nd place finish in the East . This season is the 1st in my way of thinking . My grandsons keep telling me 2014 is the year of The Vols for them I hope they are right . The Vols will beat a team that they are supposed to lose to in 2014 . My $$$$ says it will be the Bama Game .

we did that in 2013... came literally 1 inch from doing it twice.
You should listen to your grandsons more :good!:

 

[loggervol]

remember, remember the 5th of February.
as Butch Jones proceeds to plot.
for the rest of the of the sec, it's about to get scary.
as the VOLS stand HIGH upon OLE ROCKY TOP!!

 

[jackaro]

I said then and I'll say now. Dooley was using UT as a stepping stone toward Georgia. While he wanted to be successful at UT, he didn't want it to be *too* successful long term. He gambled and he lost. Conspiracy? Perhaps. But with M Richt at the helm under-performing in most years, many fans vocally displeased with big game, SECCG and bowl game performances and with his dad's heritage and connections, you never know.

Bottom line - Dooley was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a "it'll be ok little Derek" mantra spoken over him. He apparently thought those translated through life.

I desperately hope that the first paragraph is sarcasm, because it is darn close to being the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. I can think of only one thing someone said to me that was worse than that. It's gotta be sarcasm...right?

 

[Dave1967]

Dam ned good,I'd say!

 

[Jackcrevol]

Dooley? dead to me.

 

[DaddyChad]

This staff put together the best recruiting in the country this year.

Every other team in the top five had more to sell than UT. Every other team in the top 10 had better in state talent available than UT. The job done by this staff this year is nothing short of remarkable.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Dooley? dead to me.

Unfortunately there are too many p***k ticks on the board who absolutely MUST drag his name out of mothballs repeatedly under some excuse or another. Some even insist the mothballs are flavorful jawbreakers.

 

[velovol]

There was an article in the Tennessean on the mid state dandy dozen and I think every single recruit mentioned they had NO relationship with the former staff.
That just stings.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

I think that, with every coaching change, there will be things the fans learn about that they had no idea were taking place.

The true identity of just how good or how bad a former coach was isn't revealed until months, or even years, after they are no longer with the same program.

Kind of like getting stiches and wrapping the injury in gauze, you never know what's happening beneath bandage until days - or even weeks later. Unwrap the wound to learn if the Dr. & medicine performed well or if you will be standing in the amputation line!

On the surface, we all knew UT wasn't making the progress we hoped for under the previous coach and even all the things we may have been unaware of were not enough to retain the staff.

The article, linked in the Opening Post, sheds light on just how poorly things were going beneath the 'gauze'. Most of us probably knew, in some way, that the results on the field were in direct relation to the staff's shortcomings off the field. I just never realized how undisciplined and unskilled they were in terms of the recruiting phase.

Their ineffectiveness and unorganized style is highlighted by the recruiting success of the current staff. I'm not sure there is even a way to effectively and accurately compare the disparity between our current staff and the previous one, in terms of the failure/success of their respective recruiting processes.

 

[butchna]

I think that, with every coaching change, there will be things the fans learn about that they had no idea were taking place.

The true identity of just how good or how bad a former coach was isn't revealed until months, or even years, after they are no longer with the same program.

Kind of like getting stiches and wrapping the injury in gauze, you never know what's happening beneath bandage until days - or even weeks later. Unwrap the wound to learn if the Dr. & medicine performed well or if you will be standing in the amputation line!

On the surface, we all knew UT wasn't making the progress we hoped for under the previous coach and even all the things we may have been unaware of were not enough to retain the staff.

The article, linked in the Opening Post, sheds light on just how poorly things were going beneath the 'gauze'. Most of us probably knew, in some way, that the results on the field were in direct relation to the staff's shortcomings off the field. I just never realized how undisciplined and unskilled they were in terms of the recruiting phase.

Their ineffectiveness and unorganized style is highlighted by the recruiting success of the current staff. I'm not sure there is even a way to effectively and accurately compare the disparity between our current staff and the previous one, in terms of the failure/success of their respective recruiting processes.

Good points....the light at the end of the tunnel involves the fact that our former coach barely delved into the next season's prospects while he was doing his mad scientist thing at filling his current class...much less looking TWO years ahead...the MOVE ON people should be satisfied at the lack of horror stories this time next year.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[sjt18]

Recruiting ultimately comes down to the HC. Recruits may like the other coaches but the HC is the main draw.

There are different philosophies on how to get talent to UT. Dooley thought he would have to recruiting nationally and particularly in central Florida. He failed to leverage his name in GA. He pretty much abandoned Tn. Remarkably for an intelligent man, he alienated alums knowing that a bunch of highly talented legacies were going to be out there.

Dooley was fired for many reasons and deserved it. He flat out gave up in his last year leaving Jones nothing to build on for a recruiting class. UT might should have held out... Dooley might have even quit.

But NO. Jones effort isn't just good by comparison. It is the best recruiting job I have seen at UT in many, many years. He didn't pick over the scraps. He didn't have to take a bunch of risks on 5* talents with a bunch of issues. He got the good ones and took them from great recruiting programs. He brought in a highly talented group of players who seem to have academics and character to match.

I am still looking for proof that Jones and staff are elite coaches. They may not have the consistency to be called elite recruiters. But this class was as "elite" as a coach can do. This was a Saban/Miles/Carroll level effort. Then you throw in the recent difficulties and 7 loss season... Jones did an EXCELLENT job with this class.

 

[tm3]

Dooley and Kiffin both had top ten classes during their UT tenure.

Virtually all of VN was marveling at their recruiting prowess.

No one was saying, "the ranking is high, but the quality just isn't there" (which turned out to be the case).

This time, it's different. We hope.

 

[thebjd]

Dooley and Kiffin both had top ten classes during their UT tenure.

Virtually all of VN was marveling at their recruiting prowess.

No one was saying, "the ranking is high, but the quality just isn't there" (which turned out to be the case).

This time, it's different. We hope.

Dooley never had a top ten class. He inherited a top five class from Kiffin and saved a lot of it to keep it in the top ten. The difference in that class and the next two is immense.

 

[tm3]

Dooley never had a top ten class. He inherited a top five class from Kiffin and saved a lot of it to keep it in the top ten. The difference in that class and the next two is immense.

That is one side of the argument, and quite popular since Dooley is no longer HC. In 2010, however, VN was full of the counter theory ie a number of stars were not interested in UT until Kiffin left and were sold by the outstanding skills of Dooley (he was a Saban mentor, after all). Iirc Rodgers and Hunter, among others, were credited to Dooley. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

The prevailing theme is that the current HC is invariably the saint while the ex HC is the villain. Emotion trumps logic.

 

[Orangedogsrule]

Unfortunately there are too many p***k ticks on the board who absolutely MUST drag his name out of mothballs repeatedly under some excuse or another. Some even insist the mothballs are flavorful jawbreakers.

I don't think I've ever said this, but:

This has to be the most under-rated post of the day, and best post in this thread.

Berating Dooley constantly =:horse:

Every time I see it I thinks to me own self,

"move along, nothing to see here."

 

[thebjd]

That is one side of the argument, and quite popular since Dooley is no longer HC. In 2010, however, VN was full of the counter theory ie a number of stars were not interested in UT until Kiffin left and were sold by the outstanding skills of Dooley (he was a Saban mentor, after all). Iirc Rodgers and Hunter, among others, were credited to Dooley. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

The prevailing theme is that the current HC is invariably the saint while the ex HC is the villain. Emotion trumps logic.

The only one not interested in Kiffin was Stone.

 

[f77f00]

Pretty amazing I would say. Tradition, facilities, and even our crazed fan base help a lot but Butch and crew fairly well knocked it out of the park.